Window well cover



E. W. GUSTAFSON ETAL July 26, 1966 WINDOW WELL COVER Filed April 17. 1963 IN V EN TORS' ERIC W. GUSTAFSON YETHEL L.GUSTAFSON 41%, 7 LMLLL mfwzmy/ United States Patent 3,262,487 WINDOW WELL COVER Eric W. Gustafson and Ethel L. Gustafson, both of 4018 Cherry St., Erie, Pa. Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,722 1 Claim. (Cl. 16088) This invention relates to window well covers and, more particularly, to attachments for use with Window wells in order to afford protection for the well from leaves and other foreign bodies, while provided for adequate illumination and/ or ventilation of the window well at the same time.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a window well construction and cover which may be quickly and easily installed on all varieties and constructions of window wells for the purpose of providing a cover and protection for the well itself while enabling effective illumination and/or ventilation to be supplied for the well.

A further object of this invention is to provide a construction in accordance with the preceding object which shall be of such construction that it may be readily applied to any desired type of window well with ease by unskilled labor as, for example, by householders of the do-it-yourself variety.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a window well protective cover in accordance with the foregoing objects which shall be of a strong, durable construction, well adapted to prevent small animals from securing access into the window well, and capable of functioning as a storm window to protect the well from being flooded during storms as by water pouring thereinto from the roof of the building.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a window well protective cover construction in accordance with the preceding objects which shall be of attractive appearance, highly effective for the purposes intended, and shall be capable of being compactly stored in a fiat package to facilitate storage, transportation, and dispensing of the same.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a window well cover which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and eflicient to install.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a window well according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the well shown in FIG. 1.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, a window well is shown having a screen or perforated cover 11 which rests on the upper edge of a flange 12. The flange 12 forms a peripheral lining for the well and extends slightly above the ground 20.

A building wall 18 is shown constructed of masonry with a foundation 19 having a window opening therein. The window opening is closed by a window 16 having a glass pane 17. A screen panel may rest at its lower edge on the upper edge of the rim of flange 12. The well and reinforcing bars 13 will hold the cover 11 in 'ice shape if it is stepped on by a person or if some other unusually large force is exerted on it.

A marginal frame 29 is fixed at its rear ends to a transverse member 30. The frame 29 is generally U- shaped and in the form of a flat metal member disposed parallel to the flange 12.

The screen panel 15 may rest at its lower edge on the upper edge of the rim and it is disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the window pane 17 and the outer surface of the wall 18. The perforated cover or screen 11 has hinges 14 which connect it to the lower edge of the panel. The window pane 17 is supported in a frame 24. Spring clips 21 are fixed to the outer edges of the screen 11 and they frictionally engage the upper edge of the flange 12.

The device may be quickly installed by supporting the flange 12 in the hole forming the window well having a bottom 22. The screen panel 15 may be either fastened at its upper edges to the wall 18 and at its lateral edges at 25 to the building wall 18 or it may be supported entirely from the upper edge of the flange 12.

To clean the window well when the device is in position as shown, the cover 11 may be swung upwardly by swinging it up around the hinges 14 or it may be swung down with the clips 21 frictionally engaging the window well.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but it is understood that the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claim.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

In combination,

a wall having a window opening therein,

a window well adjacent said window opening and being of a depth equal to a portion of the height of said window opening,

a window in said opening,

a well flange forming an inner lining for said well and extending slightly above the surface of the ground,

a screen engaging said wall above said window opening extending down parallel to said window and resting at its lower edge on said flange,

a perforated sheet hinged at one edge to the lower edge of said screen and resting on the upper edge of said flange,

and laterally and longitudinally extending reinforcing bars attached at their ends to said flange and supported thereon,

a transverse member,

a marginal frame fixed to said perforated sheet,

said frame being generally U-shaped with the ends of said U-shaped frame fixed to said transverse member,

said transverse member being fixed to said perforated sheet,

resilient clips attached to the edges of said sheet and frictionally engaging said marginal frame,

said marginal frame being disposed around the outside of said well flange. 

